Yesterday the DNP released, via facebook, initial information regarding the project to resurface the roadway from Baan Krang to Panoenthung (Km 15 to Km 36), the project is due to commence on November 1st 2018 and will last for approx 560 days (1 and a half years) and will replace the current track with a concrete surface.

At this stage there is no other information released. It is not clear yet exactly what specific access will be closed (i.e. during the whole length of the construction or partial) and for how long. The project has been on the cards for the last two years and, indeed, was supposed to start one year ago - originally.

A machine translation of the release on Facebook is as ......

"The road according to the original traffic skin that has been built, which is the original ramp road since the year. Prof. 2529, which is built in your era, can be purple, gold, Chief National Park, kaeng krachan. The first, the traffic skin that makes the tire ramp has been dislocated due to the road, there is a lot of slope and humidity. The last road repair is used ,, but there is no grinding or secondary with a stone to the surface.
Now, in the past year, there was a storm of, in the province of diamond, and there was a large amount of water flowing down the dam, kaeng krachan, a large number of years ago, causing landslide, blocking several roads, and there was a lot of ground erosion. Range

The action does not cut the new path, does not expand the traffic skin, there are four-metre traffic skin, made with concrete, to reduce the erosion of soil that is a road area and create safety in the traverse in the

The measures of construction control, with a 3-Set Quality Patrol Officer, the control set is not to be committed to the law, and there is an automatic camera installation to the point, and there is a car inspection set up down all cars during the construction range.

For the after-construction measures, there is a control control measures for the same time, and there is a car control. The audience is based on the ability to support the number of tourists, according to the National National Park, wildlife and plant. It will also be adjusted to the service of the According to the law, it is for safety to tourists and wildlife in the area.

The reason to take action is due to the risk of landslide (landslides), causing the road to collapse, not to be able to traverse if not to improve traffic skin.

Kaeng Krachan National Park has asked to close the tourist attraction. He has been in the field since it has been improved since km. At 15 + 00 to km At 36 + 500 make tourists may not take convenience and safety in tourism from November 1, 2561, the number of 560 days until the process is completed. Sorry for the inconvenience."

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Sam Yot to Baan grang is open as per usual. vehicular traffic beyond Baan grang is closed but one can walk the Baan grang to stream 1 trail - I walked it this morning in the rain and had an elephant sighting.

I am just back from 4 days in the park - the partial closure of 15-18 is a bit of a pain but I have to say I had a very good stay in spite of the terrible weather.

It's strange how you get used to the norm and then when it changes it surprises you. There were two unexpected things that made me take pause. The first was on the first morning I could have a lie in "bed" until 7 am because the peace was not shattered by 40 old pickups tearing past my "bedroom". It was so peaceful. The other was that there was virtually no-one there - on Sunday morning there was one tent in the camp site, I could see one roof tent at the upper camp site and just one couple enjoying the restaurant to themselves. As I am one of those curmudgeons that's does not enjoy crowds it turned out much better than I was expecting.

The DNP, this afternoon, halted the current project methodology to resurface the Panoenthung roadway with concrete, after the second multi-party meeting at Kaeng Krachan HQ.

An alternative solution for repair will be now proposed by the PAC, the solution will be required to take into account concerns raised about wildlife as well as the safety of visitors to the park and essential national park activities.

It is not clear if the road will be reopened in the interim as no rainy season maintenance has yet taken place this year because of the proposed road renovation works.

I kind of agree with Paul, having come to terms with the road being closed for a year or so I was actually enjoying the peace and quiet at Bang Krang!

Went in last Sunday and was the only car lining up to enter, had to wake up the guard to let me in. The road was silent all morning and I was passed by only one car in a couple of hours birding. Quite a change from the 20 + cars and pick ups I would normally expect. I got great views of a Buffy Fish Owl, it was sat by the road enjoying the quiet too!